Senate Ratifies State Labor Contracts With Raises

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Labor pacts covering 38,000 state workers have won approval from the Minnesota Senate.

Senators voted 43-22 on Monday to formally adopt contracts that have been in place since late last year. The two-year agreements contain annual raises of three percent or more, which some lawmakers say helps make up for years of mostly stagnant pay.

A House vote hasn’t been held yet, but no one is forecasting trouble in the Democratic-led chamber.

The Senate vote was bipartisan. But Republican Sen. Michelle Benson said the Legislature was wrong to adopt the government pay raises before a tax-cut plan for a range of Minnesota taxpayers and businesses. That plan is pending.